Women ahead on headgear

SOME of my well-placed (and big-hearted) friends have been receiving faxes inviting them to a Save the Children fund-raising luncheon at which Paloma Picasso will be present.

Indeed, the renowned designer's hallmark colours of red and black will provide the theme of the occasion.

So far so good. But I do take exception to the line saying ''ladies attending the luncheon are invited to wear hats''.

Why only the ladies? For sure Nigel Rich, Dickson Poon, Simon Murray, Paul Selway-Swift and Sir Run Run Shaw - all pillars of Save the Children's fund-raising committee - would welcome the chance to sport some fetching headgear, too. Right guys?